Wisconsin Democrats push for 'fresh start'
Posted: Jan 15, 2019 8:53 AM CST
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Latest on Wisconsin Legislature (all times local):
Wisconsin legislative Democrats say their priorities for the next two years will provide the state with a "fresh start" by undoing Republican policies that Democrats say have undermined democracy.
Democrats have little chance of passing what they want, given that Republicans are in the majority in both the Senate and Assembly. But Democrats have an ally with newly elected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Democratic legislative priorities include having nonpartisan redistricting reform, ending unlimited campaign donations, changing the state constitution to enhance the state's open meetings and open records law as it pertains to the Legislature and barring any lame-duck sessions between an election and the start of a new legislative session.
Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz says Democrats are taking the case to the voters to advocate for more sensible policies, even though Republicans oppose much of what they want.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is scheduled to meet behind closed doors with Republican lawmakers as both sides say they want to work together on major issues facing Wisconsin.
The unusual meeting Tuesday in the Capitol comes after Assembly Republicans sent Evers a letter detailing areas where they believe they can work together. That list includes road funding, income tax cuts and pre-existing condition insurance guarantees.
The public gets its chance Tuesday to weigh in on the latest Republican-authored bill to guarantee insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. The measure has bipartisan support, but it's unclear whether it has enough votes to pass the Senate.
Also Tuesday, Assembly Democrats plan to outline their priorities for the legislative session.
Republicans hold majorities in both the Senate and Assembly.
Today 31° Mostly Cloudy